Contrary to popular belief, instead of cats and dogs, the first American animal activists focused mostly on horses, working tirelessly to protect the welfare of animals who were a key mode of transportation.
Then, on April 14, 1869, Caroline Earle White and a group of women established what's now considered the first American animal shelter, in Bensalem, Pennsylvania. In addition to horses, its mission expanded "to provide as soon as possible, a refuge for lost and homeless dogs, where they could be kept until homes could be found for them, or they be otherwise disposed of."
It marked a turning point. The notion of a shelter, or even a municipal pound, as a place where you could go and find a pet, according to historian Bernie Unti, really took hold in the latter part of the 19th century and then has grown steadily ever since.
So to celebrate how far we've come, we at Bored Panda are continuing our monthly series, and have compiled the sweetest pet adoption photos we could find. Continue scrolling to check them out and in case you've missed our earlier publications, we kindly invite you to catch up: October, September, and August.
For everyone who is thinking of (or has just) invited a new critter into their home, we also had a chat about making the transition as smooth as possible with the People's Dispensary for Sick Animals (PDSA), a veterinary charity in the United Kingdom. You'll find it spread in between the images.
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Beagle Puppy Cuddles Up To The Rescuer Who Saved Him From Euthanasia. Nice Dog Rescue Story Heard From Franklin County Shelter And Adoption Center In Ohio
8 Month Old Abused Retriever Mix. Scared And Sad. Brought Her Home. She Barely Moved. Was Scared To Even Walk Around The House. Lowers Head When You Reach To Pet Her. Couple Days Later With A Little Love And A Stubborn Beagle That Kept Bugging Her To Play And She’s A New Happy Dog Running Wide Open
"Getting a pet is a very exciting time, but choosing a pet and making sure you are able to provide everything they need can feel overwhelming!" PDSA Vet Nurse Shauna Spooner told Bored Panda.
"And there are so many pets to choose from – dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs, ferrets, or smaller pets like hamsters, rats, mice, gerbils, and chinchillas."
Adopted The Cutest Stray I’ve Ever Met My BF Named Her Edith (Aka Edee)
I Recently Finished Chemo Treatment And Decided To Adopt A Husky! Say Hi To Loki!
Fishtopher The Cat Finds Forever Home After His Adoption Listing Went Viral
He's só adorable, i want him, and to be fair there is 99.999% chances of me wanting all the cats on this thread...
"Firstly, how much do you know about the pet that you want? [The UK is a country] of animal lovers – our 2022 PDSA Animal Wellbeing (PAW) Report found that 52 percent of [local adults] own a pet."
However, Spooner highlighted that raising an animal can be a different experience from the one we like to imagine. "Research as much as you can about the species and breed of pet you want, and make sure you know all about The 5 Welfare Needs that every pet needs to be healthy and happy."
"Talk to people who already own that particular pet for their real-life experiences, and get advice from a vet," she added.
Meet Jade, My Newly Adopted 9 Year Old Fluff Ball
Meet Leo And Luna! Even Though I Saved Them From A Sad Home They Have Ended Up Rescuing Me From Some Sad Days! #catsrule
I Went To Adopt 1 Dog
This Is Bubble. We Adopted Him Knowing He Was Feral And Probably Would Never Go Near Us! 3 Days In And We Are Already Getting Contact
Good job! Never give up; it can take some time, but it's totally worth it!
When deciding which pet is right for you and your lifestyle, Spooner said you should think of P.E.T.S. – place, exercise, time, and spend.
Let's start with place. "All pets need space to run and play, but dogs in particular need regular access to safe and secure outdoor areas," she explained. "Many cats also enjoy being able to exercise outside, and rabbits and guinea pigs need access to a large run or a garden to be happy and healthy."
From Stoic To Smiley
Lola
Just Adopted This Cat Who Sits Up Like A Groundhog
This Handsome Man Was Thrown From A Car Window And Luckily Someone Found Him, I Saw His Adoption Post And Was The First To Inquire. Meet Sushi!
Next, exercise. "Dogs enjoy regular walks, and playing off the lead whenever it is safe for them to do so. The amount of exercise a dog will need depends on their age, size, breed, and health," the vet nurse pointed out, adding that all pets enjoy fun games and to keep themselves active, but for smaller pets, you can easily do this in your house.
Meet Smeagol! We Found Her Outside In The Rain Clinging To Some Rocks
Rescued A Barn Kitty From The Cold Yesterday
Dad Wanted To Get Mom A Puppy; She Rescued This Senior Citizen Instead. Allow Me To Introduce Mr. Kiss Kiss
Just Adopted Sylvester. He Is Showing Off His One Fang And Shredded Ears. He Has Feline AIDS And Is The Gentlest Boy
FIV+, be very carefull with his mouth, they are very pron to gum infections. I Lost my Mateus to kidney faliure caused because of the FIV.
Moving on, we have time. "Pets are generally sociable and dogs especially love your company. It's really important that they aren’t left alone for longer than four hours, as dogs can become lonely, anxious, and distressed," Spooner said.
"Each type of pet will have different requirements; walks, training, playtime, feeding, cleaning their home and equipment, grooming, and visits to the vet might take more time than you think."
My Wife And I Adopted These Two Sisters Recently, Aka They Chose Us At The Animal Shelter. Love Black Kitties
Be afraid, be very afraid, just look at those eyes, plotting your accidental Demise, the only thing delaying the plan, is the fact that they cant Open the food cans lol ( they are frikking adorable and i Also want them )
An Update To My Update: Sir Remi Remington And His Mustache Won Me Over. I Couldn’t Part With Him After Fostering Him As A Bottle Feeder And Because He Fit In So Well With The Family. I Officially Adopted Him
As a failed foster too I love hearing of others who fell in love with their furbabies <3
Love the name, how appropriate! He looks like a regal English gentleman!
Absolutely could NEVER part with this cutie patootie either!!!
Our Family Adopted A Cat Today. I Swear He’s Smiling
I Knew Adopting A Kitten Would Be Kinda Cute, But I Had No Idea What I Was In For
Lastly, spend. And it's not just the initial cost of getting a new pet that you need. There are also ongoing and unplanned expenses that will drain your wallet.
"Food, equipment, toys, flea and worm treatments, pet insurance, replacing a chewed-up bed, or unexpected vet bills, it all adds up significantly over the lifetime of your pet, especially as they get older or if they develop health problems," Spooner said.
We Found The Best Stray
Meet Nala! We Rescued This 14 Yo Beauty And She’s Absolutely Amazing
Looks like when Nala was rescued, her coat was matted and had to be shaved down. She should be a beautiful floof once it grows back in.
I Rescued This Kitten Outside Of My High School! Named Her Rocket Because I Found Her During A Paper Rocket Test
Meet My Newly Adopted Cat Benson! He Was Neutered As An Adult Right Before I Adopted Him So He Has The Cutest Tom Cat Cheeks! His Eyes Are Also So Beautiful!!
Rescued This Cat From The Cold And It Looks Like He Has Claimed Me As His Owner
Carson Spent Two Years At The Rescue - He Was Too Shy/Nervous For Everyone. Their Loss. They’ll Never Know What They Missed Out On
My Fiancé And I Decided To Adopt A New Kitten. Everyone Meet Larry!
Friend Just Adopted This Adorable Girl. Her Name Is Sadie
Was Looking Around To Adopt A Bunny And Found This Derpy Looking Bunny
I Was Adopted Yesterday By This Pretty Lady!
Just Adopted These Brothers, They Seem To Be Waiting For Me To Do Something
Feed usssss, feeeeeeed usssss, ( use the voice of the aliens in " independence day " for added drama ) lol
Our Beautiful Rescue, Pashmi
Went To The Rescue - Met Somebody. Named Him Jackson. We Are Going To Have A Blast
Welcome To The Family. Adopted A Kitty
With a built-in parent or older sibling who loves them already!
Decided To Give The Cat My Fiancé And I Adopted Some Tuna For Thanksgiving. He Then Went Into What We Affectionately Call Goblin Mode. Safe To Say He Enjoyed It!
We always give our cats and dog pieces of turkey at Thanksgiving and Christmas. They love it, and always go into their own little turkey comas with big smiles on their faces. My husband and I do the same.
Our New Baby Girl
What an absolute cutie! I grew up with the sweetest, cutest Sheltie dog.
Nala Was A Little Lonely, So I Adopted A Brother For Her. Meet Aurum
i will hug him and pet him and squeeze him and name him george! er i mean aurum!
Another Rescue, Crazy Lady Thought She Could Keep Kittens In A Tiny Cage Without Food Or Water. 5 Of Them Made It, This One's Name Is Marsha Marsha Marsha
Just Adopted This Kitten Yesterday. Meet Chloe!
Rescued A Dumpster Diving Kitten Last Night
Looks like they’re either purebred or have quite a bit of Siamese or Himalayan in them. They’re already beautiful, and once you get them healthy and happy, they will be breathtaking.
Rescued Her From Being Eaten! Now She Cuddles Me No Matter What I Do
We Adopted Frankie Today!
Scared And Hissing Little Cat We Saved From The Pound. He Made So Much Progress In Just A Month
He just had to check you out first, and be sure you weren’t going to hurt him. He looks satisfied that you passed his test!
Adopted Name Alfalfa, We Call Him Alfie. Nearly 3 Years Old And He’s Just A Little Smol Boy That Shouts All Of The Time
Just Adopted A New Kitten. Decided To Name Him Koda After The Cub In Brother Bear. He Reminds Me Of A Mcflurry
Just Adopted This Smol Goblin! His Name Is Merin
I Adopted A Kitten With Three Legs And Lol
Adopted A Black Kitten, Named Him Ryuk
Winter Has Arrived A Tad Early.... Adopted This Weekend
I Adopted Nova 2 Weeks Ago And She's Definitely Made Herself At Home
We Adopted A New Cat And She Has A Lil Heart On Her Foot
My New Polish Senior Bela - He Was In The Shelter For Years
Local Rescue Group Just Adopted Out The Most Polite Looking Kitty!
Just Adopted This Absolute Cutie Cuddlebug! Everyone Meet Mika!
Mika’s going to have years and years of cuddling ahead of her—and so are you!
Meet Traffic Cone (Taffy), Our Semi-Feral Baby Adopted From A Hoarding Case
Rescued 3 Felons From The Side Of The Road This Past Weekend
Adopted Little Crow Last Night!
Brought Home This Little Girl Today
gah stop it... i can't take anymore.... just have all my upvotes before i pass out from all the cute......
I Adopted A Senior Cat My First Wonder
Adopted This Sweet Kitty. Her Life Before Was Very Hard But I’d Like To Think She’s Pretty Happy Now. (Peep The Smile)
After Our Sudden Loss Of Our Sweet Boy, We Decided To Adopt This Little One. Meet Nala
We Named Him Doug!
Adopted This Sheltie Mix After A Life On The Run In Ky
Adopted My First Dog Ever Now I Work From Home. I Think This Means She’s Comfortable With Me
My Mom's New Rescue Kitten, Jasper
Recently Adopted This Lil’ Baby, She’s At 5 Weeks Old Now. My Small Hand For Scale
This Is Sophia From Our Shelter. She’s Almost 10 Year Old And Today She Was Adopted!!! What A Great Day For Her
My Newly Adopted Babies. Now They Won't Have To Go To The Animal Shelter
My First Night Fostering Her. She Decided She Was Home So I Adopted Her. I'm Not A "Failure". She Asked Me To Adopt Her
Picked Up From The Rescue A Little Over A Month Ago, She's 13 Weeks Now And Likes To Eat Breakfast With Me. She's My Best Buddy
Adopted This Little Adorable A**hole Today
High Def has allowed animals to actually see what’s on TV. Or laptop. One of my cats loves to watch the action.
Adopted My First Ever Dawg
All these posts are making me want to adopt a pupper !!! Idk how the kitties would feel about it tho.
Adopted Her Today
We Rescued A Sweet Little Orange Fluffball Last Weekend. It Looks Like She Likes Her New Home
Cute Little Void That My Wife Rescued
I have a void named Jack, and he’s the sweetest, most laid back, and cuddly boy!
Living Her Best Post Shelter Life In Our Guest Room Which She Has Claimed As Her Room
I Adopted The Cutest Little Guy This Week!
I Just Adopted This Little Bundle Of Joy From The Humane Society
Meet Herbbie. She’s 12 Weeks Old And We Adopted Her Today From A Rescue. She Was Found With Her Mum And Brother When She Was 1 Day Old. She Nearly Lost Her Life And Is Half The Size Of Her Brother. She Joins Us And Our 3 Black Cats
From The Shelter To Leaving The Best Life!
My good sir, you are quite the dapper gentleman. A pleasure to make your acquaintance. Here, let me hang your hat. Would you care for a cup of water , and chicken biscuits (dog treats)? Let's step into the parlour.
Just Adopted This Little Rascal. Say Hi To Booger
Rescued The Goodest Of Good Boys Today. Meet Po!
Kitten, I Found At Gas Station Has New Furever Home Thanks To Rescue Cats Fayetteville, Georgia
Adopted Curie Yesterday And She Won't Stop Making Biscuits
Rescued This Little Girl From A Shelter. Cattle Dog X Maltese Named Mipha!
My Little Corgi Mix Rescue. All We Know Is Mom Was A Corgi, No Idea On Dad. Her Name Is Mavis
I Haven't Had A Cat In 15 Years, But I Finally Buckled Down And Adopted This Baby, Say Hello To Mei!
Foster Fail Meet Our New Adopted Girl Zora!
Day Three Of Adopted Kitten. Purring So Loudly He Could Power A Car
My Son Rescued A Very Illegally Tiny Smol Cat Today. My Grandcat
My New Rescue Kitten Has Been Making Himself At Home
My Sister Rescued A 5 Week Old Puppy. Meet Moxxi
I Adopted A Cat Today. He Already Has A Few Favourite Spots To Chill In. Everyone, Meet Mumbo
When they sleep this deeply, it’s because they know they’re safe, secure, and loved.
Our New Rescue… Meet Shrimp Smol Kitty, Big Attitude
I love cats with attitude. Our cat Smudge is like that. Lots of attitude and soooo loving!
Adopted This Sweet Rescue Boy Today
Adopted This Hippo A Couple Days Ago. He'd Been At The Shelter The Second Longest. He Has A Perfect Temperment And I'm So Glad I Got Him!
I imagine the fact that he’s a pit bull put peol,e off, and it’s just a shame. So happy he found you!
Just Adopted This Void Yesterday. So Far His Favourite Place Is On Top Of My Printer
Smol Rescue Baby
Thelma And Louise Are The Last (Not So Small Anymore!) Foster Criminals. Bonnie And Clyde Got Adopted Today. Bittersweet
I Adopted A Kitten Two Days Ago, He’s Three And A Half Month Already But He Looks So Tiny Ttwtt
Our cat Jack was the runt of his litter, half the size of his siblings. He’s now a big 15 lb bruiser, and just the sweetest cuddle bug.
I Guess I Got Adopted Today
Rescued Two Days Ago, 3 Months, Needs A Name!
Boy or girl? If a boy, then Balthazar. If a girl, then Rosaline. (In a Shakespearean mood right now.)
Marble Cupcake Aka Murder Mittens Aka Thanksgiving Rescue ... Is A Girl!
I Just Found This Cat On The Street And Adopted Him. I Would Like To Give Him A Name That Reminds Me Of The Sun. Any Suggestions?
In Spain They Say: Mas Bueno Que El Pan - Better Than Bread. That's Him, Rescue Jack-Chi Charlie
Our New Adoption Yuki (Black) Is Learning Quickly From Hachi
Dogs are pack animals, so having a built in dog friend is heaven for them.
Podencos
Where is his pants at it looks like he is sitting there in his underwear lmao
From Shelter Dog To Nightly Cuddles In The Pup-Ritto Blanket My Boy Blaq Jaq (Black Jack)
New Fosterdopt
Love big black dogs. They get passed over for adoption so much it’s a shame.
What Have I Done? What Breed Is She? Adopted Last Week
Today, I Adopted My First Rescue Dog
Adopted This Guy Three Weeks Ago- Safe To Say He’s Settling In!
Jill Says Happy Thanksgiving!!
On November 27th, my family adopted this Perfect cat! SMOKEY_BOB...2c7628.jpg 
Me too! Also exclaimed 'oh my goodness!' many times. Cuteness overload
Load More Replies... We adopted a rescue cat a few years ago. She was literally just skin and bones, they'd found her in eastern Washington, place that's super hot and dry in the summer and super cold and snowy in winter. She didn't even purr for a week. she put on weight quickly however and now she's a snuggle bunny.
Exactly one year ago today we took our newly adopted cat to the local shelter for a spay appointment with their vet. After dropping her off, we passed the dog adoption area which wasn't open for a few hours. All the dogs were barking as we passed, except one black and white Jack Russell with a face exactly half black and half white. He just watched us with his paws propped up against his fence. My fiancee saw him and started talking to him. The dog's tail started wagging. My fiancee said, "we'll come back for you buddy!" We arrived a few hours later to pick up our cat, we got there an hour earlier than we were told to do we could see if that dog was still there. He was, and we took him into their meeting room. All the dog wanted was to be held. He was a scared little thing but he wanted to be in our arms. He had just turned one, just been neutered and that day was his first day he was available for adoption. That day we went in with a cat and left with a dog and a cat.
We got a rescue about a year and a half back. He had been kept in a trailer with 80 other dogs. They weren't sure could be adopted. Just cowered in the corner for the first while. Never been on grass and freaked out by butterflies but now loves to chase a ball in the yard. Still a ways to go but he adores my wife and is just getting around to letting other people (occasionally) touch him. Finally got a leash on him and have started going for short walks. After all he has been through he does not have a mean bone in his body and is showing signs of eventually becoming a complete snuggle bun.
I'd add in my adorable staffy/whippet who appeared in my backyard one day and just never left. Poor thing was so skinny and we thought she was brown to start with. Nope she was just really dirty she black and white. She practically lives in my lap lol. I don't know how to add a picture to my comment though
My dear Luna, Big Tuna. According to local police she was a voluntary surrender. She was a brood b*tch for a backyard breeder. It's unlikely that she had never been indoors excepting in a garage in our Midwest state. She spent 6 months in the shelter. This is her within an hour of coming home. She was with us for five years. We had to teach her how to play, loved to swim and enjoyed evening walks. She succumbed to her second bout of breast cancer. RIP my soulful Big Kahoona. 20161129_1...ea0222.jpg 
We adopted a dog at the beginning of the pandemic, missing fur in patches, very shy, cold look in her eyes and wouldn't really let us touch her too much. Today she's got a beautiful coat is such a happy girl, tail always up. Just earlier she leaned into a hug I was giving her and she always rolls over for belly rubs. And the cold shy look in her eyes is long gone.
About two weeks ago, I rescued a cat from the trail near my house. I couldn't keep her since I already have two cats that hate each other, but she is now safe and sound at a no-kill shelter. She was microchipped, but the owners never came forward after numerous attempts to contact them from the shelter. I think they abandoned her. She is such a sweet cat, too. She's now up for adoption and I have every confidence that she will be adopted. She's the nicest kitty. I intend on continuing contact with the shelter until she gets adopted. I just need to know. I know she'll be okay, but it breaks my heart to pieces that someone presumably just left her. I will never understand.
God bless all you wonderful humans for loving and caring for these beautiful creatures.
Last week we adopted a senior cat that was roaming on the street in front of our house, she was covered in bugs, positive in feline HIV and has a little tumour on her head that will be operated next wednesday. We already have 4 adopted cats, but we feel blessed to have the chance to save this lovely furry soul and give her a home for the rest of her life. We only wish we had the money and space for more like her. We named her Rose 😊 (I don't know how to upload a photo of her )
I'd love to adopt a cat, but never had one before and worried about them scratching everything! Any advice?
Provide them with ample PROPER places to scratch. I have a huge cat tree for vertical scratching and climbing, 1 very large cardboard scratcher, and 2 medium sized scratchers in the room with the brand new furniture. They leave the furniture alone because they like the other proper places better.
Load More Replies...
This morning there were 115. Now there's only 50. What happened to the rest of the pictures?
BP narrows down selections as upvotes are collected throughout the day
Load More Replies... On November 27th, my family adopted this Perfect cat! SMOKEY_BOB...2c7628.jpg
Me too! Also exclaimed 'oh my goodness!' many times. Cuteness overload
Load More Replies... We adopted a rescue cat a few years ago. She was literally just skin and bones, they'd found her in eastern Washington, place that's super hot and dry in the summer and super cold and snowy in winter. She didn't even purr for a week. she put on weight quickly however and now she's a snuggle bunny.
Exactly one year ago today we took our newly adopted cat to the local shelter for a spay appointment with their vet. After dropping her off, we passed the dog adoption area which wasn't open for a few hours. All the dogs were barking as we passed, except one black and white Jack Russell with a face exactly half black and half white. He just watched us with his paws propped up against his fence. My fiancee saw him and started talking to him. The dog's tail started wagging. My fiancee said, "we'll come back for you buddy!" We arrived a few hours later to pick up our cat, we got there an hour earlier than we were told to do we could see if that dog was still there. He was, and we took him into their meeting room. All the dog wanted was to be held. He was a scared little thing but he wanted to be in our arms. He had just turned one, just been neutered and that day was his first day he was available for adoption. That day we went in with a cat and left with a dog and a cat.
We got a rescue about a year and a half back. He had been kept in a trailer with 80 other dogs. They weren't sure could be adopted. Just cowered in the corner for the first while. Never been on grass and freaked out by butterflies but now loves to chase a ball in the yard. Still a ways to go but he adores my wife and is just getting around to letting other people (occasionally) touch him. Finally got a leash on him and have started going for short walks. After all he has been through he does not have a mean bone in his body and is showing signs of eventually becoming a complete snuggle bun.
I'd add in my adorable staffy/whippet who appeared in my backyard one day and just never left. Poor thing was so skinny and we thought she was brown to start with. Nope she was just really dirty she black and white. She practically lives in my lap lol. I don't know how to add a picture to my comment though
My dear Luna, Big Tuna. According to local police she was a voluntary surrender. She was a brood b*tch for a backyard breeder. It's unlikely that she had never been indoors excepting in a garage in our Midwest state. She spent 6 months in the shelter. This is her within an hour of coming home. She was with us for five years. We had to teach her how to play, loved to swim and enjoyed evening walks. She succumbed to her second bout of breast cancer. RIP my soulful Big Kahoona. 20161129_1...ea0222.jpg
We adopted a dog at the beginning of the pandemic, missing fur in patches, very shy, cold look in her eyes and wouldn't really let us touch her too much. Today she's got a beautiful coat is such a happy girl, tail always up. Just earlier she leaned into a hug I was giving her and she always rolls over for belly rubs. And the cold shy look in her eyes is long gone.
About two weeks ago, I rescued a cat from the trail near my house. I couldn't keep her since I already have two cats that hate each other, but she is now safe and sound at a no-kill shelter. She was microchipped, but the owners never came forward after numerous attempts to contact them from the shelter. I think they abandoned her. She is such a sweet cat, too. She's now up for adoption and I have every confidence that she will be adopted. She's the nicest kitty. I intend on continuing contact with the shelter until she gets adopted. I just need to know. I know she'll be okay, but it breaks my heart to pieces that someone presumably just left her. I will never understand.
God bless all you wonderful humans for loving and caring for these beautiful creatures.
Last week we adopted a senior cat that was roaming on the street in front of our house, she was covered in bugs, positive in feline HIV and has a little tumour on her head that will be operated next wednesday. We already have 4 adopted cats, but we feel blessed to have the chance to save this lovely furry soul and give her a home for the rest of her life. We only wish we had the money and space for more like her. We named her Rose 😊 (I don't know how to upload a photo of her )
I'd love to adopt a cat, but never had one before and worried about them scratching everything! Any advice?
Provide them with ample PROPER places to scratch. I have a huge cat tree for vertical scratching and climbing, 1 very large cardboard scratcher, and 2 medium sized scratchers in the room with the brand new furniture. They leave the furniture alone because they like the other proper places better.
Load More Replies... This morning there were 115. Now there's only 50. What happened to the rest of the pictures?
BP narrows down selections as upvotes are collected throughout the day
Load More Replies...